Textile material



March 31, 1936. w DlCKlE T AL 2,035,641

TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed Oct. 12, 1932 W\LLW1 A. D\CK\E 35 ALEAADER Hsewn:

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEXTILE MATERIALApplication October 12, 1932, Serial No. 637,435 In Great BritainOctober 21, 1931 17 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of textile materials, and isparticularly concerned with the finishing operations carried out on pile5 fabrics. It is an object of the invention to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for raising or brushing the pile of pile fabrics.

According to the invention, in the raising or brushing of pile fabrics,vapour, e. g. a softening 10 vapour, is applied to a part of the fabricwhich is being subjected to raising or brushing. In general, steamingaffords a satisfactory vapour treatment, and in the subsequentdescription reference will be made only to theme of steam. In

15 carrying out the process, the pile may be raised by means ofrotatingbrushes, card cylinders or other means for the purpose, and maybe carried out uniformly over the whole of the fabric or in such amanner as to produce differential surface 20 effects on the fabric.

The invention is applicable to pile fabrics generally, such as plush,warp pile velvet, ring velvet of weft pile velvet, whether the pileconsists of cotton, wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, artificial silk 25 or ofany other material and whatever the nature of the ground by which suchpile is backed. The invention is, however, particularly applicable tofabrics having a pile of artificial silk. The invention is especiallyproductive of very good -30 results when applied to fabrics having apile consisting of organic derivatives of cellulose, such as celluloseesters, e. g. cellulose acetate, formate, propionate, or butyrate, orcellulose ethers, e. g. ethyl, methyl or benzyl cellulose, which fabrics35 cannot be effectively raised or brushed by the usual methods.

In order to carry out the invention, an apparatus is used comprisingmeans for raising the pile of the fabric, in association with means for40 treating the fabric with steam simultaneously with pile raising andon the same part of the fabric. Thus, in order to treat the fabric withsteam simultaneously with pile raising, a steam box may beprovided,'between which box and the 45 pile raising means the fabric ispassed. The edges of the steam box over which the fabric passes shouldbe of such a nature as to ensure that the steam leaving the box can doso only by passing through the back of the fabric to the face. 50 Theinvention will nowbe described in greater detail with reference to theaccompanying drawing but it is to be understood that this description isgiven by way of example only and is in no respect limitative. 55 Fig. 1is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to theinvention;

Fig. 2 shows, in side elevation, means for lifting the pile raisingmember; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the means 5 for lifting the pileraising member.

As shown in the drawing, the fabric l passes round guide rollers l l andI2 and over a tensioning roller I3, the rotation of which is braked by aband 14 weighted at l and engaging a brakedrum 16 connected to theroller l3. From the tensioning roller l3, the fabric I0 is led over thetop of a steam box I1 and to a porcupine drawing roller la, the needlesof which engage the back of the fabric and draw it through the machine.

A steam pipe I!) perforated on its underside passes centrally throughthe steam box l1 and ejects steam downwardly against a baflle plate 20.The steam is deflected upwards and dis- 20 tributed evenly throughoutthe box [1 by the baflie plate 20 so as to pass evenly through thefabric l0 stretched over the top of the box ll. To prevent condensedsteam fromv accumulating in the box II the baffle plate 20 is perforatedand allows moisture to leave the box by a drain 2|. The substantiallyflat pile A of the fabric I0 is raised to the upright position shown atB by means of a card-covered cylinder 22, which is mounted at a suitableheight over the steam box i1 and rotated to exercise a teaseling actionupon the pile A while the fabric is being subjected to the action of thesteam applied from the box II.

The cylinder 22 may be driven at a surface speed greater than that ofthe fabric or may be driven at a relatively low speed, depending uponthe effect desired in the finished fabric. Alternatively a stationarycard may be employed in place of or in addition to the rotatable cardcylinder, in order to comb out the pile in one direc- 40 tion, as isrequired for example, by way of preparation for dyeing processes.

In order to prevent rusting of the card wire, the cylinder 22 may beheated by steam or otherwise, for example, by passing steam through ahollow shaft so as to prevent any condensation from taking place. Inaddition to the above precaution it is preferred that card wire ofrustless metal should be used, and/or that it should be secured in thecard clothing in the manner described in U. S. application S. No.634,731 filed September 24, 1932 corresponding to British SpecificationNo. 27,323/31 filed 1st October, 1931. In'that specifl'cation isdescribed a method of replacing the rubber employed in the card clothingwith an V ester, ether or ether-ester of a polyhydroxy compound of highmolecular weight, such as cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. In this'mannerinjury to the card clothing and to the fabric being treated on accountof corrosion of the card clothing under the action of steam is avoided.

The upper edges of the steam box I l are smooth and level to allow thefabric 10 to fit very closely so as to prevent the escape of steam. Thelength of the box may equal the width of the fabric, but in order toprevent the escape of steam when the fabric width is less than thelength of the box, suitable plates (not shown) may be used to blank overthe ends of the box not covered by the fabric.

Raised pattern effects and designs of any description are obtained byraising the pile through a stencil 25 loosely surrounding the cylinder22.

The stencil 25 is cut to any desired pattern and rotates at a surfacespeed equal to that of the fabric l and may contain exactly one or morerepeats of a' design. The card clothing penetrates the open parts of thestencil, thereby raising the pile coming beneath those parts but ismasked from the fabric beneath the blank parts of the stencil, whichareas are thus allowed to pass through the machine unraised and may evenbe further flattened by the pressure of the stencil.

After passing the porcupine roller I8 the fabric proceeds to abeater-fan 23 which serves to free the fabric from'flufi and loosematerial. When treating the fabric more than once, thus passing itagain. through the machine, the extremities of the fabric mayconveniently be sewn together to form an endless band. As the seam thusformed is thicker than the rest of. the fabric, it is ad visable to liftup the cylinder 22 momentarily from the fabric when the steam is aboutto pass the point normally in contact with'the fabric. For this purpose,cylinder lifting means may be used similar to the glossing bar liftingmeans described in U. S. application S. No. 637,434 filed October 12,1932, corresponding to British Patent No. 391,191. Thus the shaftof thecylinder 22 may be connected at each end to a lever 2 6 fulcrumed at 21on a pillar 28 attached to a convenient part of the machine. The leveris weighted at 29 to provide pressure for the cylinder 22. Lifting cams3| mounted on pillars 32, contact with levers 26 and can be rocked tolift cylinder 22 by means of an arm 33 connected by a vertical link 34to a pedal lever 35. Thus, as

the seam of the endless length of fabric reaches the pile raisingmember, the operative canv readily raise the said member by pressingpedal lever 35, the operation not requiring to be stopped.

Vapours other than steam may be used instead of, or in admixture withsteam, in order to produce augmented or modified results. Thus forexample, when fabrics having a pile of cellulose acetate or otherorganic derivative of cellulose are under treatment, vapours of asolvent or softener for the cellulose derivative, e. g; acetone vapours,may be mixed with the steam. When the alternative or additional vapouris of a relatively expensive kind, as in the case of acetone, a cowl 24connected to a suction system is adapted to cover the area over the boxI! so as to conduct ing pile fabrics.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

'1. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivativeof cellulose, said process comprising mechanically raising the pile overat least part of the area of the fabric while simultaneously applyingthe vapor of a solvent for the said cellulose derivative to the part ofthe fabric being raised.

2. Process for eifecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains cellulose acetate, said processcomprising mechanically raising the pile over at least part of the areaof the fabric while simultaneously applying the vapor of a solvent forthe said cellulose acetate to the part of the fabric being raised. i

3. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of. cellulose acetate,said process comprising mechanically raising the pile over at least partof the area of the fabric while simultaneously applying acetone vapor tothe part of the fabric being raised.

4. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivativeof cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over atleast part of the area of the fabric'by drawing the fabric past apile-raising member with its pile side in contact with the member, andsimultaneously applying vapor of a solvent for the derivative ofcellulose to the part of the fabric in contact with the pile-raisingmember. I

5. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of cellulose acetate,which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of thearea of the fabric by drawing the fabric .past a pile-raising memberwith its pile side in contact with the member, and simultaneouslyapplying steam vapor-of a solvent for the cellulose acetate to the partof the fabric in contact with the pile-raising member.

6. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivativeof cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pileover at leastpart of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric past a pile-raisingmember with its pile side in pressing contact with the member, leavingthe back of the fabric exposed as it passes the member, and applyingvapor of a solvent for the derivative of cellulose to the said exposedback of the fabric.

7. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of an organic derivativeof cellulose, which comprises mechanically raising the pile over atleast part of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric under tensionpast a pile-raising member with its pile side in contact with themember, deflecting the tensioned fabric by the member, andsimultaneously applying vapor of a solvent for the derivative ofcellulose to the back of the part of the fabric in contact with thepile-raising member.

8. Process for effecting substantially perma nent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric, wherein the pile contains yarns of celluloseacetate,,which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at leastpart of the area of the fabric by drawing the fabric under tension pasta pile-raising memtil her with its pile side in contact with the member,deflecting the tensioned fabric by the member, and simultaneouslyapplying steam vapor of a solvent for the cellulose acetate to the backof the part of the fabric in contact with the pileraising member. E

9. Process for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pile ofa pile fabric. wherein the pile contains yarns of cellulose acetate,which comprises mechanically raising the pile over at least part of thearea of the fabric by drawing the fabric past a pile-raising member withits pile side in'pressing contact with the member. leaving the back ofthe fabric exposed as it passes the member, and applying steam vapor ofa solvent for the cellulose acetate to an enclosed space abutting on theback of the fabric opposite the pile-raising member.

10. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pileof pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spacedpoints in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past thesupporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points ofsupport and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflectthe tensioned length of fabric between the supports so that the pileside of the fabric is pressed against the pile-raising member, and meansto apply vapor to the part of the fabric incontact with the pile-raisingmember.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the pile-raising member isprovided with cardclothing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising means adapted to varythe height of the pileraising member relative to the fabric.

13. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pileof pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spacedpoints in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past thesupporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points ofsupport and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflectthe tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby thepile side of the fabric is pressed against the pileraising member, astencil disposed between the pile-raising means and the fabric andadapted to produce a local raising of the pile of the fabric, and meansto apply vapor to the part of the fabric in contact with thepile-raising member.

14. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pileof pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spacedpoints in its length, means to draw the fabric un der tension past thesupporting means, a pileraising member disposed between the points ofsupport and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflectthe tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby thepile side of the fabric is pressed against the pileraising member, achamber disposed on the back of the part of the fabric in contact withthe pileraislng member, the chamber having an open face adjacent to theback of the fabric, and means to supply vapor to the said chamber.

15. Apparatus for effecting substantially permanent raising of the pileof pile fabric, comprising an open-faced box abutting on the back of thefabric and supporting the fabric between the edges thereof, means todraw the fabric under tension past the supporting edges, a pileraisingmember disposed between the supporting edges to engage the pile side ofthe fabric and to deflect the tensioned length of fabric between thesupporting edges so that the pile side of the fabric is pressed againstthe pile-raising member, and means to supply vapor to the enclosedchamber formed by the open-faced box and the fabric'passing over itsopen face.

16. Apparatus for effecting substantially permament raising of the pileof pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spacedpoints in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past thesupporting means, a card cylinder-disposed between the points of supportand adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflect thetensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby thepile side of the fabric is pressed against the cylinder, and means toapply vapor to the part of the fabric in contact with the cylinder.

17. Apparatus for effecting substantially permament raising of ,the pileof pile fabric, comprising means to support the fabric at two spacedpoints in its length, means to draw the fabric under tension past thesupporting means, a. rotatable brush disposed between the points ofsupport and adapted to engage the pile side of the fabric and to deflectthe tensioned length of fabric between the points of support whereby thepile side of the fabric is pressed against the brush, and means to applyvapor to the part of the fabric in contact with the brush.

WHJIAIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE, ALEXANDER HENDERSON GENTLE.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,035,641. March 31, 19:56.

WILLIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE, ET An. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,second column, line 51, for the word "teaseling" read teasing; page 2,second column, line 44, claim 5, and page 5, first column, lines 5 and15, claims 8 and 9, re-

spectively, strike out the word "steam; and that the said Letters Patentshoul be read with these corrections "therein that the .same may conformto the recon of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of April, A. p. 1936.

Leslie Frazer 7 Acting Commissioner of Patents.

